Manual Therapies For Spinal Health

This is a comprehensive study of science that looks at the effectiveness of manual therapies for both musculoskeletal conditions and non musculoskeletal conditions that enhance spinal health. What we continue to learn through these comprehensive studies is:

1. In health care, treatment plans should involve evidence informed decisions utilising a multi modal treatment plans (where appropriate) including co management with other practitioners like general practitioners, massage therapists etc etc.

2. The scope of practice for the profession

3. How to navigate evidence based practice so we do the right thing, at the right time for the patient at hand.

4. Further studies with excellent scientific method are needed to learn more about treatments and injury management

“Conclusions

Spinal manipulation/mobilization is effective in adults for: acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain; migraine and cervicogenic headache; cervicogenic dizziness; manipulation/mobilization is effective for several extremity joint conditions; and thoracic manipulation/mobilization is effective for acute/subacute neck pain. The evidence is inconclusive for cervical manipulation/mobilization alone for neck pain of any duration, and for manipulation/mobilization for mid back pain, sciatica, tension-type headache, coccydynia, temporomandibular joint disorders, fibromyalgia, premenstrual syndrome, and pneumonia in older adults. Spinal manipulation is not effective for asthma and dysmenorrhea when compared to sham manipulation, or for Stage 1 hypertension when added to an antihypertensive diet. In children, the evidence is inconclusive regarding the effectiveness for otitis media and enuresis, and it is not effective for infantile colic and asthma when compared to sham manipulation.

Massage is effective in adults for chronic low back pain and chronic neck pain. The evidence is inconclusive for knee osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, migraine headache, and premenstrual syndrome. In children, the evidence is inconclusive for asthma and infantile colic.”